Pet peeves are minor habits and gestures that individuals find annoying. Interrupting, being late and poor public etiquette are some of the various irritants to many. At FVHS, students opened up to some of their most maddening everyday pet peeves that get under their skin.
Chewing loudly is a habit that many people, especially students, find irritating. This peeve is often caused by siblings who chew loudly or peers who unknowingly exhibit the behaviour.
“I feel like chewing loudly [is my pet peeve] because it’s really obnoxious,” said freshman Imani Murungi.
She traced her annoyance back to home, when her little brother would purposely chew loudly to rile her up. She explained that now, this irritant just stuck with her over the years and has become more noticeable. Others added that the sound of ice scratching against the refrigerator and the sound of chalk are also among their many pet peeves.
Pet peeves aren’t simply limited to sound; they can also occur in communication. The tone and speaking patterns of a person’s speech can rub someone the wrong way and cause involuntary annoyance.
“One of my biggest pet peeves is when people are condescending, and they think they know better than you…it bothers me because people think I’m not as smart as I look,” said freshman Evelyn Wagner.
Another annoyance that students face are in the hallways. Almost everybody wants to get to class on time, considering that with ten or fewer tardies, students have the opportunity to skip finals, but of course, there will always be the group of slow walkers and loitering students.
“My biggest pet peeve is when people block the hallway when I’m trying to get to class…I really don’t want any tardies since the new policy [exam exemption] was made,” said freshman Jocelyn Nandha.
Lastly, another pet peeve students get triggered by is when people don’t cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. Students say that this is more of a hygiene issue. Not only is it irritating, but also inconsiderate, especially during flu season.
“I think that not covering your cough or sneeze is unhygienic and inconsiderate as it can make others sick as well,” said freshman Mary Travers.
While most pet peeves seem small, the ways that students react to them vary. Some students say they try to ignore it, while others take the more blunt approach by telling the irritating person off. Pet peeves often reflect personal experiences and how individuals view the world around them. A sound, tone, or behavior that irritates one person may not bother someone else.
Usually, these annoyances become more prominent during school, as it is a shared space where a multitude of different personalities interact and mix. Small habits, behaviors and pieces of daily life can feel more distinguishable to some more than others, and it is important to understand that everyone has their own sensitivities. While pet peeves are unavoidable, acknowledging them can help people have more empathy, patience and understanding.
